Steering mechanism for traction-engines and the like.



D. P. DAVIES.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR TRACTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30,1910.

Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

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STEERING MECHANISM FOR TRACTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE,

' APPLICATION FILED JULY30,1910. 1,045,952, Patented Dec.3,1912.

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UNITED dTAIE s rarnnr orat on.

DAVID E. IL'QJVIES",- OF RAGINE, WISGONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 J. 1. CASE THBESHING- MACHINE GEMBANY, 01E RAGINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATIQN.

$. IE-Uffhll'ISM FOR TIEJaC'EIQN-ENGINES AND. THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. 3, 1912.

To all wlzom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID P. DAVIES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Racine, county of Racine, and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering Mechrv nism for Traction-Engines and the Like, of

which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to steering mechanism for traction engines and the like, and seeks to provide a simple and effective steering gear which is durable in construction 7 and which may be easily operated. The

steering axle for traction engines is usually centrally and horizontally pivoted so that it can swing in a transverse vertical plane and permit the wheels of the steering axle to rise and fall as they pass over obstructions or depressions without tilting the frame of the engine. The present invention is adapted to this form of steering axle and consists in the features of improvement hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the preferred form in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved steering mechanism with one of the wheels of the steering axle shown in sect-ion. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view-with parts shown in section on the line 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

'-- Fig. l is a perspective view of a plate forming part of the bracing means for the steering axle.

The stub axles '10, whereon the steering wheels 11 are mounted, are connected at their inner ends by vertical pivot pins 12 to.

the ends of the transverse axle support 13. The axle support is centrally and horizontally pivoted on the frame of the traction engine to swing in a transverse vertical plane. In the preferred form shown, 1t 13 provided with forwardly and rearwardly projecting pivots-14 which are ournaled 1n bearings 15 upon the lower end of a bracket 16. This bracket is riveted .to the lower end of a lJ-shap ed plate 17 which in turn is riveted at its upper end, to channel bars 18 which form the sills of the machine frame.

desired, the transverse axle support may-formed of a single casting. In the 1 construction illustrated, it comprises upper Application filed July 30, 1910. Serial No. 574,718.

pivot bolts 12 which extend through the I inner ends of the stub axles 10. Each of the stub axles is provided at its inner end with a projecting crank arm 22 and the ends of these arms are connected by links 23, so that thest-ub axles shift together to steer the machine.

' The wheels 11 are shifted upon their vertical pivots by gearing driven from a longitudinally extending shaft 24 arranged in line with the axis of the axle support 13. Preferably, the forward end of this shaft extends through and is journaled in the pivots 14 of the axle support. Its rear end is journaled in a bearing 25 (see Figs. 2 and 3) which is secured to the framework of the machine. In the form shown, this hearing is arranged within an opening in the lower end of a plate 26 and is provided with a flange 27 by which it is riveted to the plate. The plate is'secured at its upper edge by an angle bar 28 to the lower edges of the sills 18 and inclined brace bars 29 extend between the lower portion of the plate and the U- shaped piece 17.

A worm 30 is fixed to the shaft 24 between the vertical pivots 12 of the stub axles 10.

In the form shown, the worm is arranged between the front and rear castings 20 of the transverse axle support. One of the stub axles 10 is provided with an inwardly projecting part 31 which has a segmental worm wheel 32 that engages the worm 30 upon the operating shaft 24. Preferably, the segmental worm wheel 32 is detachably connected by rivets 33 to the part 31 of the stub axleand the latter is provided with upwardly projecting lugs 34 which engage the ends and the central spoke of the segmental worm wheel, so that the latter is rigidly and de tachably held in position. By this arrangement the worm gear can be readily renewed when it becomes worn. By rotating the operating shaft 24, the worm gearing will turn the stub axles 10 to steer the machine. At the same time the axle support 13 and the stub axles and wheels carried thereby are free to swing in a transverse vertical plane, so that the wheels can rise and fall in passr I I o l ing over obstructionsor depressions without port and its bearings, a pairof brace rods 35 extend between the ends of the axle sup-- port and a member 36 which is carried by the machine frame and which is rotatablymounted in line with the axis of the axle support. In the form shown, this member 36 is rotatably mounted upon the bearing 25 for the rear end of the operating shaft 24.

The forward ends of, the inclined brace rods are provided with eyes which engage'the lower ends of the vertical pivot bolts 12.

The rear ends of these rods are threaded, eX-J tend through a depending flange 37' on the rotatablemember 36 and are securely connected thereto by nuts 38. The rear end of the rotatable member 36 abuts against the plate 26 A, plate 39 mounted upon the rear ends of the brace rods 35 is held against the forward end of the rotatable member by two of the nuts 38. The upper notched edge of this plate engages an annular grooveACO formed in the forward end of the bearing 25. By this arrangement, the rotatable member 36 is rigidlyheld against longitudinal movement and the rods 35 connected thereto,- brace the ends of the axle support and the pivots of thp axle stubs, so as to relieve the strain brought upon the bearings of these parts when the wheels 11 strike ob structions. At same time, the brace rods and the member to which they are connected, are free to oscillate with the axle,

support 13. In

the operating sliaiit 24- of the steering gear can be rotated in any suitable manner.

In the form shown, it is connectedat its rear end by intermeshing beveled gears 41 and 42 to a transverse counter shaft 43. This shaft is journaled in a bracket 4:4 that is bolted to the rear face of the plate 26. The counter shaft 43 is connected by the intermeshing beveled gears 45 and 4-6 to a shaftdl. This shaft is journaled at its forward end in a hearing in the bracket 44+ and extends upwardly and rearwardly therefrom to the drivers position. on the machine, where it is provided with a hand wheel 1-8 or other suitable means by which it may be rotated. The beveled pinions e1, 42, 1-5 and 46 constitute a convenient form of speed reducing gearing :between the hand wheel 48 and operating shaft 24:, so that the latter may be readily rotated to steer the machine. I

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details set forth without departure from the essentials of the invention, as defined in the claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In steering mechanism for traction engines and the l1ke,the combination with the frame, of an axle support centrally and horizontally pivoted in the frame to swing in a rotating said shaft.

' axles, a member rotatably mounted u vsupport, a s'haftjournaled in said support I in line with the axis thereof, a worm on v said shaft, a worm wheel fixedto one of said stub axles and engaging said worm and means for rotating said shaft. r I 2. In steering-mechanism.for tractionienj 'gines and the like, the combination with-the frame, of a bracket depending therefrom, a1 transverse axle support centrally; and horif 5 zontally pivoted on said bracket, stub axles vertically pivoted to the ends of saidsup-1 port, crank arms fixed to said axles, anon-f necting link'betwee'n said crankarms-a lo'n gitudinally extending shaft journaled said support in line with the axisthereof, a worm 'fixed'to said shaft, a segmental worm wheel secured to one of said stuba'xles' and engaging said worm,

3. In steering mechanismnineteen-fee gines'and the like, the combination 'withthe frame, of an axle support .pivotally mounted in theframe to swing in a transverse verti 9 cal plane, stub axles vertically pivoted ti the ends of said support, 'a ineinber'rotatablfi" mounted in 'a portion ofsai'd frame in ling; with the axis of said support,braces con nected to the ends of said support and 't'oigg said member and means for, shiftin'g'said: stub axles." i. In steeringmechanism for tractionven gines and the like, the'combination with the I frame, of a transverse axle supper-teem 1 trally and horizontally pivoted to frame to swing in 'a transverse vertical plane, stub axles vertically pivotedto thew ends of said support," a rotatable "member arrangedin line with the axis of said sup '0 port, means for bracing said rotatablernei her and for holding the same against l-ongitudinal movement and brace bars .extendi between said member and the vertical. pf

of, said stub axles 111G- 5. In steeringmechanisrn for traction gines and the like, the, combination .Withthe frame, of a bracket depending therefrom, transverse axle support centrally and horizontally pivoted on said bracket, connected '13s stub axles vertically pivoted to-the ends of said support, a longitu'dinaliy extending shaft journaled at its forward end, in said; support in line with the axis thcreof,'w'orm gearing connecting said-shaft and saidstub 3263 on the rear end of said shaft,ymeans for racing and holding said member against longitudh nal movement, :brace bars. extending between said member and the: pivots ofsaid stub 3a axle, and means for rotating said shaft.

6. In steering mechanism for tract-ion en- 'nes and the like, the combination with the rame, of a bracket depending therefrom a transverse axle support having central front 13( and Ineans ffor 35 t and rear pivots journaied in bearings in said braekei', a pair of projecting stub axles, a pair of: pivot pins connecting the inner ends of said stui) axles to the outer ends of said axle support, connected crank arms fixed to said stub axles, a shaft extending throng i1 and journaied in the front and rear pivots of said support, a arm fixed to Said shaft behveen said pivots, a segmental worm wheel fixed to one of said sin! ZLXiQF; ynoieei.- 1m mg inwardly therefrom and engaging: said worm, and means for rotating said shaft, substantially as described.

Witnesses FREDERICK RonmsoN, B10110. Ronmsom, 

